ByLion
IN THIS ISSUE, DECEMBER 3, 2018

Miss Southeastern 2019 crowned
Faculty, Staff Open House set
Commencement improvements planned

Volunteer for Late Night Breakfast

Commencement traffic changes planned 

Northlake Community Band to perform

Southeastern in the News
Professional Activities

BYLION STORIES

 

Miss Southeastern 2019 crowned
Miss Southeastern 2019

 

Southeastern accounting major Chelsey Blank of Paulina has been chosen Miss Southeastern 2019.
     Blank received her crown from Miss Southeastern 2018 Alyssa Larose of Kenner at the annual pageant Friday (Nov. 30) at Southeastern’s Vonnie Borden Theatre. Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, the pageant is affiliated with the Miss America Pageant system.
     A junior, Blank also received the Talent Award as well as the Student Government Association (SGA) Academic Award.
First runner up was Aesha Magee, a senior health systems management major from Mount Hermon.
     Second runner up was Lily Torbert, a sophomore from Houma double majoring in biological sciences and Spanish. Torbert also won the Miss Congeniality award.
     Baylee Smith, a junior political science major from Amite, took home both Lifestyle and Fitness and the People’s Choice awards.
Junior business administration major Kayla Chategnier of Luling received the Miracle Maker Award.
     Blank will advance to the Miss Louisiana’s pageant that will be held in Monroe in June.

 

 

 

CHELSEY BLANK WINS 2019 MISS SOUTHEASTERN CROWN – Miss Southeastern 2018 Alyssa Larose of Kenner crowns Chelsey Blank of Paulina as Miss Southeastern 2019 at the annual pageant held Friday. Looking on is CAB Coordinator Nick Elliott.

Photo credit: The Lion's Roar

Annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House scheduled
President's ResidenceThe annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House will be held at the President’s Residence this Wednesday, Dec. 5, between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. We hope you will join us!

Volunteer for Late Night Breakfast
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of the semester but with final exams quickly approaching, that means it's time for Late Night Breakfast. 
     Dining Services will be hosting a student appreciation Late Night Breakfast on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 9 until 11 p.m. in the Mane Dish, located on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. This is always a well-attended event and a great way to wish our students well on their final exams.
     If you are interested in participating as a volunteer server for Late Night Breakfast, please contact Robin Parker at rparker@southeastern.edu to let her know if you are interested in the early shift (9-10), late shift (10-11) or both shifts (9-11).

Traffic changes planned for commencement 
Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 8, should anticipate heavy traffic and route changes affecting University Avenue (Hwy. 3234) between Interstate 55 and North Cherry Street.
     Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed will provide the keynote address at the ceremony, where more than 1,000 students will receive associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees at 10 a.m. in the University Center. 
     Harold Todd, director of University Police, said the section of University Avenue between West Lion Lane and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that day. Local traffic will be allowed to proceed on University Avenue for as long as possible but will be diverted through the campus as congestion increases.
     Prior to commencement, the University Center parking areas are expected to fill early, and all traffic on University Avenue will be diverted to main campus via North General Pershing Street and SGA Drive. Eastbound commencement traffic will be diverted to West Lion Lane for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive.
     “Traffic will begin to get heavy early in the morning,” said Todd. “We anticipate the parking areas around the University Center to be filled before 9 a.m. We suggest that students and their families carpool and arrive as early as possible for the ceremony.”
     Additional parking spaces around the University Center will be set aside for vehicles with appropriate handicapped placards. Individuals requiring handicap accommodations should try to arrive as early as possible.
     Vacant parking spaces in the Southeastern Oaks/Greek Village complex will also be used for this event. Residents are requested to use the back gate near the laundry facility and maintenance warehouse for entering and exiting between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
     Southeastern Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be in operation before and after the ceremony to accommodate those parking in outlying areas or needing special transportation assistance, Todd said. Shuttle stops will be marked with signs and/or canopies.
     Drivers not attending commencement are asked to use U.S. 190 (Thomas Street and Morris Street) or Natalbany Road (Hwy. 1064) to avoid University Avenue traffic.
     Southeastern students wishing to return rental textbooks that day should wait until after 2 p.m. to do so.

Southeastern to improve guest experience at commencement
Guests at Southeastern’s winter commencement should expect several changes designed to enhance the overall event experience. Updates include an increased number of attendants to assist guests with directions and seating, the addition of bag checks and alterations to the list of allowed items to enhance security, and live streaming of the ceremony on the Southeastern Channel.
     Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Kay Maurin said, for security purposes, all commencement attendees are asked to limit handbags, camera bags, and tote bags to only those that are necessary. All articles brought into the facility will be subject to search, she added, and this may increase the amount of time it will take for some attendees to enter the University Center. The doors to the University Center will open at 8 a.m. to allow extra time for bag checks.
     “The safety of our graduates, faculty, staff, and guests is our top priority. Bag checking is an important security practice and is utilized by colleges and universities across the country,” said Maurin. “Our team will offer expedited entrances for anyone not carrying a bag and all others will be subject to quick searches. We encourage guests to arrive early and with their groups in order to go through bag check and enter the arena together as quickly as possible.”
     To ensure a safe and comfortable commencement, Maurin said, the following items are strictly prohibited from being brought into the University Center: beverage containers, aerosol and spray cans, animals (except for service animals for persons with a disability) balloons and beach balls, alcoholic beverages, weapons, signs, banners, flags, laser pointers, noisemakers (including but not limited to whistles, air horns, bull horns, sirens, thunder sticks) strollers, drones, confetti, glitter, streamers, silly string, fireworks, party poppers and sparklers.
     Guests are asked to refrain from saving seats out of consideration for other guests. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis, so groups should plan to arrive early to find seats together.
     “Commencement is a ceremonious occasion honoring our students’ impressive accomplishments. Decorum and courtesy are important to our guests, the candidates and their families,” said Maurin. “Guests and graduates are encouraged to remain for the duration of the ceremony so that each graduate and their family can share their moment without interruptions. Applause should be kept to a minimum so that each graduate’s name can be heard as it is called.”
     As part of commencement decorum, Maurin added, guests should silence cell phones and other electronic devices. Candidates should plan to meet their guests outside the University Center, as guests are not allowed on the arena floor or stage.
     For those who are unable to attend commencement or simply wish to enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes, the Southeastern Channel will live stream the event for the first time. The live stream can be accessed by logging on to thesoutheasternchannel.com/programs/graduation/.
     “Many graduates have family and friends who are unable to travel to Hammond to attend graduation. We are now live streaming the ceremony so those family members and friends can see their loved ones cross the stage in cap and gown to the receive their diplomas,” Maurin said.
     For more information about commencement, visit southeastern.edu/commencement.

Northlake Community Band to give free concert
The Community Music School at Southeastern will present the Northlake Community Band in a concert titled “Fall Potpourri” Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Scheduled in Pottle Auditorium on Southeastern’s campus, the concert is free and open to the public.
     Southeastern Professor Emeritus of Bassoon Jerry Voorhees will conduct the concert that will include works by G. Holst, J. Jenkins, J. Williams, H. Fillmore, L. Anderson and others.
     “The Northlake Community Band is a true musical jewel on the Northshore and the surrounding communities, and we are very proud to have them as part of the Community Music School,” said Community Music School Director Jivka Duke. “The band brings together musicians from various walks of life, from current and retired professional musicians to people who only recently started playing music again after many years of working in a different career field.”
     Duke said the Northlake Community Band always welcomes new members.
     For more information, contact the Community Music School at cms@southeastern.edu or 549-5502.

Northlake Community BandNORTHLAKE COMMUNITY BAND TO GIVE CONCERT - The Community Music School at Southeastern Louisiana University will present the Northlake Community Band in a free concert titled “Fall Potpourri” Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. Members of the horn section include, from left, Hailey Wilkinson, Angie Tyrone, Alex Martrain, Henry Hollins, and Chris Germany.

SOUTHEASTERN IN THE NEWS

Livingston Parish News
Southeastern choirs to present choral performance Nov. 29

New Orleans Advocate
Colleges Nov. 28

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Southeastern School of Nursing faculty members were well represented at the 2018 Intercollegiate Research Symposium, hosted by a partnership between the Xi Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and Nicholls State University, College of Nursing and Allied Health. Dr. Luanne Billingsley, Dr. Kristie Riddle, and Kristin Marino collaborated on a course teaching/learning strategy and presented their work titled “Effectiveness of Using an Online Survey Tool with Undergraduate Nursing Students in Peer to Peer and Team Evaluation.” Riddle also participated in another work presented at the conference titled “Relationship Among BSN Students’ Employment Characteristics and Semester Grades During Clinical Enrollment.” 

Dr. Danielle Charrier, Dr. Staci Taylor, and Dr. Eileen Creel presented “Perceptions of Preparedness for Nursing Practice Using a Preceptor Model.” To ensure that our students were represented at the conference, Dr. Janet Jones mentored students through the abstract submission process and later with poster development when they were accepted. The Rho Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and Southeastern School of Nursing will host the Intercollegiate Research Symposium in Fall 2019.     

     Anne Babson (English) was interviewed by an online publication called BookWoman for their latest issue. Babson spoke about her work as a Louisiana writer.

 

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